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Awesome Austin! Information about Texas's Capital
Quick Facts
Founded in: 1839
Population: Approx. 1.7 million people
Ever wonder what it is that makes Austin, TX one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States? I know I have. With an expected population growth of 30% over the next ten years, Austin is quickly morphing from a hidden gem into a city treasured by both natives and newcomers. In 2006, Money magazine voted Austin the 2nd best city to live in, with Colorado Springs, CO, being ranked as the best city. The magazine's study was based on a variety of economic, educational, climatic and cultural factors, as well as the city's crime rate, quality of life and health-related factors. While not all of the study's findings are relevant today, many of the conclusions offer a glimpse into why so many people choose to move to Austin.
One thing that can make living in Austin so pleasant is the fact that the average monthly temperature is 68 degrees, which means that it's seldom freezing or unbearably hot. As an added plus, Austin's rainy season is relatively short-lived (in the springtime) which makes moving to Austin convenient at any time of year.
But weather should not be the only thing to consider if you're relocating. If you plan on working in your new city, you'll also want to check out the city's employment opportunities. Austin is a growing capital for high-tech companies, biomedical research firms and pharmaceutical corporations. Among the largest employers in Austin are Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Google, Applied Materials, IBM, 3M, eBay/PayPal and Sun MicroSystems. The expansion of these companies and other cutting-edge ventures helped Austin to earn Forbes magazine's title of the 3rd best city for jobs in 2008, and to be ranked among the top 10 cities for job relocation by the Human Capital Institute in 2007.
You may be interested to know that about 39% of Austin residents have a college degree, which is drastically higher than the national average of 27%. This is not entirely surprising, as many students move to Austin for college and choose to stay afterwards. Although there is no singular reason why this is, it may be because the average commuting time in Austin is only 20 minutes, in contrast with more congested cities where traffic and poor public transportation can create interminable commutes. Or, perhaps it's because average housing costs in Austin are around $200,000, whereas housing in other metro areas can be significantly higher.
Clearly, the fact that Austin has fewer than 3,000 restaurants (as compared with Houston that has 11,000 eateries), has not hindered the city's popularity. The city's lack of major league sports teams also does not seem to hamper the city's growth. Instead of attending sporting events, Austin residents can participate in their own sports and leisure activities, by taking advantage of one of the city's 50 pools, over 50 miles of scenic hiking trails and over 50 golf courses that are located within 30 miles of city limits.
Finally, it's worthwhile to note some Austin movers and shakers who grew up in this notable city. Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, and Matthew McConaughey are among the city's most famous natives. The only downside I could find in all of this Austin information was that the city's crime rate is significantly higher than the national average. Still, there seem to be many benefits of moving to Austin and many ways to enjoy this Texan city. I hope that you'll have lots of success if you decide upon moving to Austin!